Kyocera Document Solutions America, Inc. introduced the Nova Series of new A3 products earlier this month. (See the product video.) Jose Estébanez , vice president in the OEM’s Corporate Marketing Group, answered a handful of questions we had about the new multifunction printers and the office technology industry at large:
FC: What can you share with us about Nova’s leading features?
JE: We’re excited about what’s next for Kyocera’s A3 portfolio. We recently introduced the Nova Series, which represents a significant step forward for organizations with more demanding print environments, especially high-volume printing environments and central reprographic departments.
The lineup includes four monochrome and three color multifunction printers (MFPs), all designed to deliver light-production level image quality and exceptional reliability, while still fitting comfortably into an office setting. Color performance is a real strength here, with 2400 × 2400 dpi resolution, integrated ICC color profiles, media-specific calibration, and a choice of Fiery or Kyocera Production Print Suite for workflow management. That combination makes the Nova Series a strong option for organizations that need professional-grade output and color accuracy.
On the digitization side, we’ve taken a big step forward with an enterprise-class, high-speed, AI-enabled dual scan document processor with direct path scanning option for thick media, along with preinstalled cloud capture solutions to simplify and accelerate document workflows. Add in a wide range of finishing options like booklet making, stapling, Z-folding, inserting, and mail sorting, as well as support for multiple paper sizes and weights, and you have a platform that’s built for flexible, real-world job handling.‑class, high‑speed, AI‑enabled direct path scanner, along with pre‑installed cloud capture solutions to simplify and accelerate document workflows. Add in a wide range of finishing options‑folding, inserting, and mail sorting‑world job handling.
Security and sustainability remain core priorities for us, and the Nova Series is backed by enterprise‑level certifications such as FIPS 140‑3, ISO/IEC 15408, IEEE 2600, and HCD‑PP, giving organizations confidence in their document security. At the same time, features like high‑yield consumables, energy and CO₂ monitoring, long‑life components, and our toner recycling program help reduce environmental impact and support a lower total cost of ownership.
Overall, the Nova Series is designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s organizations by bringing together performance, security, and sustainability in a modern document generation environment. We’ve been encouraged by the response since its launch.
FC: Aside from these leading features, what other unique capabilities will be on the Nova MFPs?
JE: There’s a lot more to say about the Nova Series, but I’ll start with its innovative speed licensing model, which allows dealers to configure up to seven distinct machines from just two core models. That flexibility allows our partners to tailor solutions very precisely to customer needs, while also simplifying inventory management and reducing overall costs.
From an operational standpoint, the dual toner container system is a standout feature. It’s designed to keep jobs running without interruption, even during extended print runs, helping minimize downtime and maintain productivity. We’ve also integrated an AI-driven, straight path scanner with built-in cloud connectivity, which makes document capture faster, cleaner, and more efficient for today’s digital workflows.
Reliability was a key focus as well. The Nova Series is built to perform consistently during lengthy print runs, with capabilities like conditional calibration, accurate front‑to‑back registration, and media‑specific controls that help eliminate color inconsistencies. The result is dependable, high‑volume output that organizations can trust, one job after another.
Kyocera’s new Nova Series
FC: What are your thoughts about the industry trend of dealer consolidation?
JE: Dealer consolidation is a rational response to a market that has become smaller and more competitive. As volumes and demand patterns shift, we’ve seen that many dealers are looking for scale to strengthen service coverage, expand solutions capabilities, and improve operational efficiency, while still delivering a strong local customer experience.
I think consolidation will likely continue, but it will play out over several years rather than happening all at once, and it may occur later than many have predicted. In this environment, Kyocera’s focus is to be a stable, long-term partner to the channel through that transition. One of our key differentiators here is our end-to-end approach. We manufacture the products we sell and provide comprehensive first-party support, which gives us more control over our roadmap and enables us to move faster and more consistently with innovation, making us a stronger, more reliable partner.
FC: Kyocera has had some significant announcements of major technology advances with inkjet. What do you believe are the leading strengths of this technology?
JE: Inkjet’s leading strengths come down to operating economics, scalability, and application expansion. Production inkjet can deliver a compelling cost profile versus comparable toner solutions, particularly as customers look to reduce operating costs while maintaining strong productivity and throughput.
Inkjet delivers comparable cost economics to mono toner, with the added capability of full color at a fraction of the cost of color toner. Pair that with reliability that can replace 2,3 and even 4 toner devices, and you can see why customers are migrating to inkjet rapidly as the technology of the future for production print.
Another major advantage is scalability. Inkjet platforms can be expanded to meet growing demand, and concepts like tandem-engine configurations illustrate how productivity can be increased while continuing to drive a strong value equation versus competitive alternatives. Inkjet also becomes significantly more powerful when paired with the right ecosystem. Workflow, finishing, and technology partners enable higher levels of automation and broaden the range of applications customers can profitably produce over time.
FC: Are you willing to discuss where you see Kyocera is going with its inkjet technology (textile printing, for example)?
JE: Yes, directionally, we can share that Kyocera sees inkjet as a long-term growth platform and we will continue expanding our offering both within production print and selectively beyond it. On the higher volume side, our cut-sheet inkjet device introduced in 2020, the Kyocera TASKalfa Pro 15000c, represented our first fully owned light production inkjet product, and the market response has been very strong. Over time, we have seen significant traction, including other OEMs partnering with us to offer this platform to their customers, which is a meaningful validation that the device works and delivers consistent results. Looking forward, we are continuing to expand production inkjet capabilities, including next-generation commercial inkjet designed to deliver higher image quality at 1,200 × 1,200 dpi and to support broader media requirements such as coated stocks, so customers can address more applications with confidence.
Beyond traditional print, textiles are a strong example of where we are applying our inkjet expertise. Our FOREARTH textile solution is progressing through a controlled beta launch, and it is receiving very positive feedback from the industry. This is part of a broader intent to bring inkjet innovation into adjacent markets where we can offer differentiated value and where our core inkjet competencies translate directly into performance and reliability.
We also continue to watch the office space closely. While we do not expect office inkjet to replace laser in the near term in the United States, there are markets where office inkjet already has meaningful penetration and customers are more open to that technology. Latin America is a good example, and in countries like Mexico, office inkjet has established a solid position in the market. Our approach is to stay ready with the right product, channel strategy, and support model so we can accelerate if customer demand and regional market dynamics continue moving in that direction.
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